Two people are dead and another three were taken by helicopter to a hospital following a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 Saturday afternoon.

Shelby County Sheriff spokesman Earle Farrell said three cars and three trucks were involved. The sheriff's office assisted on scene, but the Tennessee Highway Patrol will do the investigation, he said.

The accident happened around 2 p.m. in the eastbound lane near the Tenn. 385 exit, Farrell said.

No names or ages of the deceased have been released. Farrell said two adults and a 10-year-old boy were flown to hospitals.

A car and a truck caught on fire and burned completely, he said, and two other cars were "completely destroyed."

Traffic was backed up due to the highway being closed, Farrell said, adding it would be hours before it reopened.

Reach Jennifer Pignolet at jennifer.pignolet@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @JenPignolet.